Platform adjusting means for harvester-threshers



N. R. KRAUSE 2,509,357

PLATFORM ADJUSTING MEANS FOR HARVESTER-THRESHERS May 30, 1950 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 6, 1940 INVENTOR Norman R KrausePLATFORM ADJUSTING MEANS FOR HARVESTER-THRESHERS Original Filed May 6,1940 N. R. KRAUSE May 30, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Agyman RhmuseATTOR NEY PLATFORM ADJUSTING MEANS FOR HARVESTER-Tl-IRESHERS OriginalFiled May a, 1940 N. R. KRAUSE May 30, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 25 INVENTQRgel-man R Krause ATTOFQ N E IY N. R. KRAUSE 2,509,135?

PLATFORM ADJUSTING MEANS FOR HARVESTER-THRESHERS May 30, 1950 5Sheets-Sheet 4;

Original Filed May 6, 1940 rrrrrr Ill u u H N. R. KRAUSE 2,509,357

PLATFORM ADJUSTING MEANS FOR HARVESTER-THRESHERS May 30, 19505Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 6, 1940 Patented May 30, 1950PLATFORM ADJUSTING MEANS FOR HABVESTER-THRESHERS Norman R. Krause,Racine, Wis., assignor to J. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis., acorporation Original application May 6, 1940, Serial No. 333,489.Divided and this application October 7, 1943, Serial No. 505,287

6 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to combination harvester threshers orcombines, the machine herein disclosed being substantially identicalwith that shown in the copending application of Norman R. Krause, SerialNo. 333,489, filed May 6, 1940, now Patent 2,336,263, and of which thisapplication is a division.

An object of the invention is to generally improve the, construction andoperation of such a machine and more particularly an object of theinvention is to provide for improved support for the harvester portion,improved mechanism for controlling the height of and counterbalancingthe harvester portion and distributing in an advantageous manner thestresses due to the overhanging of the harvester ahead of and thethresher in the rear of the axle; to provide for "floating of theharvester upon encountering an obstruction, adjusting the harvester tocounteract any tendency to sag, and stiffening the same againsttorsional distortion by means ex terior to the harvester.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingspecification and accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is aperspective View taken from above, to the right and slightly to the rearof an illustrative machine with parts removed and others broken away tomore clearly show the harvester suspension, counterbalancing andadjusting means.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the machine taken from ahead, above andto the left, the harvester portion, the enclosing panels and thethreshing mechanism being removed for more clearly showing the majorframe elements.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the axle, partly in vertical axial section on theline 3--3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same, taken from the left of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of certain mechanism indicated in Fig.1.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of certain mechanism indicated in Fig.1.

Fig. 8 is an elevation partly in vertical axial section of harvestercounterbalancing and elevating mechanism indicated in Fig. 11.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of a portion of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a portion of Fig. 11

' with parts broken away showing a cylinder shaft bearing and mounting.

Fig. ll is a plan view of the framing of the machine with the thresherhousing broken away and other parts removed and/or broken away toindicate the general or foundation framing of the machine.

As seen in Fig. 11 the machine comprises a generally rectangular frame 1connected as by channel members 2 and 3 with a tubular or other suitableaxle 4 extending transversely of the frame and carried by a stubblewheel 5 and a grain wheel '6 of any well-known or suitable construction,the details of which form no part of the present invention. A draw bargenerally designated as 1 includes converging members 8 and 9 which mayconveniently although not necessarily carry a deck HI. Members 8 and 9may converge and terminate in an eye 9 or other suitable element forconnection with a drawing unit. Members 8 and 9 connect in any suitablemanner as by welding, riveting, bolting or the like with longitudinalmembers H and It, a cross member l3 spacing members I l and I2 andforming therewith a substantially rectangular frame closed by acrossmember It, the frame being generally designated as l5. At the corners offrame I5 column members l5, ll, [8 and I9 respectively, for carrying agrain bin are fixed, as will appear hereinafter. Frame l5 enclosesstubble wheel 5 and is connected to frame I in suitable manner as by anangle iron 20 at the rear and a member 2| at the front of frame l5.

With the structure so far described, it will be apparent that, withdrawbar 1 connected to a tractor drawbar 22 or other stable propellingelement, frame I, due to its connection with frame [5 and draw bar 1will be transported on axle 4 in a stable manner without the requirementof more than the two wheels, 5 and 6. Frame l5 also has a "diagonalstrut or brace 23 extending to oneof the sills 24 of frame I andconnected also with a cross member 25 extending to and connected withthe other sill 26 of frame I. Cross member 25extends past sill 26 andconnects with a brace 2i interposed between a-strut 23 and axle 4. Strut28 is connected at one end with sill 2.6 as by means of gusset plate 29and at the other end through a plate 30 with a portion 4a of axle l.Brace 23 and strut 28 being oblique to sills 24 and 26 furnish efiectivebracing against lateral weaving of the rear overhanging end of frame Irelatively to axle 4 and draw bar 1. In fact brace 23 and strut 28, t0gether with cross member 25 provide a bracing system adapted fortransmitting stresses set up by grain wheel 6 around the back of themachine to the drawbar, without imposing such stresses on the separatorhousing. A diagonal brace 30a extends from cross member I 3 and connectswith axle 4 approximately at its point of connection with sill 25 aswill more fully appear "below, and a diagonal brace 3% extends fromapproximately the point of connection between sill 24 and axle 4 to anintermediate point on brace 35a.

A harvester portion in the present instance, although not necessarily,in the form of a trough and generally designated as 3!, is disposed inadvance of axle portion 4a and carried in a manner to be verticallymovable relatively to the axle and frame I. This is accomplished byswinging the entire header structure together with a feeder housingportion 32 about aligned pivots 33 and 34 carried by sills 24 and 26 anda pivot35 substantially aligned with above mentioned pivots 33 and 34and supported from axle portion 4a. Conveniently, although notnecessarily, an arm 36, being a part of above mentioned plate 39,extends from axle portion 4a to support pivot 35. A rigid member or arm3'! extends forwardly and downwardly from pivot 35 and engages with thelower portion of harvester 3| as at 38, Fig. 8, the arm 31 constitutinga rigid rearward extension of harvester portion 3|. A brace 3!! extendsfrom arm 3'! to a fitting 45 fixed to an upper portion of harvester 3|,brace 39 being adjustable in length, if desired, as for example by meansof lock nuts 4| and 42. By this means the relatively flexible harvesterportion may be adjusted to a desired attitude in relation to arm 31. Abrace 43. Figs.

'1 and 11, extends from arm 31 to a point 44 on the upper part ofharvester 3! in the neighborhood of feeder housing 32. A brace 45extends from arm 3'! to the neighborhood of the outer extremity or grainend of harvester 3|, brace 45 being also connected near the uppermostportion displacement of harvester 3! under the shaking movement of thecombine will not fall entirely upon the feeder housing 32. A brace 43also extends from arm 31 to the lowermost portion of harvester 3! nearor spaced inwardly somewhat from the grain end of the harvester asclearly seen in Fig. 1. Brace 48 is adjustable relatively to'arm 3! asby a nut 49, this brace being readily adjusted to compensate for thenatural tendency toward sagging of the grain end or outer end ofthe'h'arvester, it being possible to so adjust brace 43 that no saggingwill take place.

It should be noted that, in the case of a trough type of harvesterportion there is a certain inherent stiffness due to the semi-tubularconfiguration of the trough, but, unlike a complete tube, the trough hasno particularly strong resistance to torsional distortion. Consequentlyany sagging of the cutter bar C of harvester portion 3! would have to beaccompanied by a twisting of the trough, and conversely twisting of thetrough can be utilized for raising or lowering one end of the cutter barrelatively to the other. Such twisting of the trough is easily effectedby adjustment of braces 45 and 48, and may be very accuratelycontrolled.

It will now be apparent that harvester 3 I, feeder housing 32 and arm 31constitute a substantially rigid unitary assembly which may be swung upand down about pivots 33, 34 and 35. Means is provided for so swingingthe harvester assembly and for partially supporting the weight thereofso that it may float about the aforesaid pivots if it encounters anobstruction while traveling close to the ground. Satisfactory mechanismfor this purpose may include a sleeve or torsional or torsion resistingelement 50 in the present instance journaled on axle portion 4a,although certain of the purposes of the invention might be realized withthe member otherwise located. Sleeve 50 in the present instance isprovided with downwardly extending arms 5| and 52 rigidly fixedtherewith as for example by welding, and compression links 53 and 54 arepivoted respectively with arms 5| and 52 as for example by pins 55 and56. Links 53 and 54 extend forwardly from pivots 55 and 56 and arepivoted respectively at 51 and 58 with the lower portion of harvester3|. Rotation of sleeve 50 in a direction tending to move links 53 and 54forwardly will therefore exert a lifting force on harvester 3| andfurthermore the spaced connections or pivots 57 and 58 will tend totransmit any twisting of header 3|, as by relative forward or rearwardmovement of one of links 53 and 54 to sleeve 50, which movement will bestrongly resisted by the torsional strength of sleeve 50. Links 53 and54 are adjustable in length by any suitable means as will later appear,so that the desired relation between sleeve 54 and the spaced points 51and 58 may be readily obtained for exerting the desired effect onharvester 3| in cooperation with braces 45 and 48. Control of therotation of sleeve 50 will accordingly efiect desired adjustment ofharvester 3|, and adjustment of elements 53, 54, 43, 45 and 48 willposition bar C as desired and relieve feeder housing 32 of the stresseswhich would otherwise be imposed upon it by the harvester portion.

' The weight of harvester 3| is in effect carried on links 53 and 54 andthis is partially counterbalanced by a spring unit or other suitablemeans generally designated as 6|, having a pull rod 52 pivotally engagedat 63 with an arm 64 extending upwardly from sleeve 50. The end of unit6| opposite pull rod 62 is anchored to members 25 and 21 of the combine,the frame being strengthened at this point by sections 65 and 65, Fig.11, to withstand the very considerable pull of unit 6|. The backwardpull of pull rod 62 will cause a forward thrust on links 53 and 54 whichthrust may be so chosen as to'partially balance the backward thrust onthese links due to the weight of harvester 3|.

Adjusting mechanism comprising an extensible strut generally designatedas 6'! is engaged with downwardly extending arm 52, Fig. 8, as by pin56, although within the contemplation of the invention member 6! may beengaged with a separate pin' not shown, if desired. Member 61 isarranged to be movable preferably by power and is anchored to member 21and cross member 25 as will appear. Forward movement of member 61 willaccordingly cause forward movement of arms 52 and 5! with correspondingrotation of sleeve 50', thus causing through links 53 and 54 upwardmovement of harvester 3| about pivots 33, 34 and 35. The thrustnecessary in member 61 is reduced in accordance with the pull exerted onrod 32 by counterbalancing member 6| as seen in Fig. 8. Member 31 isslotted as at 61c where it engages pin 56. Normally pin 56 remainssolidly in the rear end of the slot, but in the event of the harvestersstriking an obstruction the harvester may rise with consequent forwardmovement of links 53 and 54, counterclockwise movement of sleeve 54, andforward movement of pin 55 in slot 61a. This "floating of the harvesteris assisted by the pull of counterbalancing member 6|, which, as abovedescribed, exerts a continuous forward thrust on links 53 and 54.

As hereinbefore stated, it is desirable that weaving stresses set up bythe very considerable load of the grain bin be isolated so far aspossible from thresher housing in order not to distort the same. In thepresent instance this is acby sid-v s ano es? complished by carrying thegrain bin on frame portion as seen in Fig. 2. Column members l6, l1, IEand I8 extend upwardly to approximately the level of the upper framemembers 69 and '10 of the thresher housing where members 16 and Il areconnected by a longitudinal strut II and members i8 and iii are joinedby a strut l2, struts TI and l2 being connected at their forward ends bya brace 13 and the rear ends by a brace M. thus building up a box-likeframework about stubble wheel and including as a part thereof previouslymentioned members H and i2 directly connected with or forming a part ofdrawbar l, it being understood that these braces, struts, etc., areconnected at their junction points by any suitable or well-known meansforming no part of the present invention. Extending up wardly from strutH are members 15 and 16 and similarly extending upwardly from strut 12are members ll and it engaged with suitable portions of grain bin 19which may be of any suitable or well-known type forming no part of thepresent invention.

Member i2 is fixed with axle l as by means of a flange 8i) and member I!is connected in the present instance with a stub axle 81 carried bywheel 5, as by means of a bracket or adapter plate 82. Through theirconnection with columns I6, 11, etc., members I! and i2 accordinglycarry the weight of grain bin i9 substantially directly on wheel 5without imposing any of said weight on the separator housing. However,there remain side sway and fore and aft oscillation to be counteracted.Fore and aft oscillation is transmitted directly to the draw bar througha brace 83 extended in the present instancefrom strut l2 diagonallydownward to member 9. Side sway of the bin is effectively preventedby abrace 84 extending from members 75 and 11 across the thresher housingand bending downward as at B5 to connect with above-mentioned plate 30which as above noted is fixed with axle portion 4a adjacent grain wheel6. Any stresses set up .ay of grain bin. are accordingly transmittedacross to the axle and are resisted by brace 84 without tending todistort thresher housing 1. In fact brace 84 is effective enough in thisrespect that frame members 69 and 70 of housing I may be connected ifdesired with brace member 84 as by straps 8t and "8? bolted or otherwisesuitably fixed with brace 34 to assist in preventing any weaving ordistortion of the thresher housing due to forces arising within itself.

In order to prevent upward buckling of brace as under compressivestresses, a tie rod 88 is extended from approximately point 85 to axle 4as will further appear and to further brace the structure and preventdistortion of the frame members to the left of the direction of travel,a tie rod 89 is extended from strut H diagonally downward to abovementioned channel member 2.

Frame members 69 and 'lil bend downwardly at the front of thresherhousing I and support an engine carrying frame generally designated as99 comprising a rear member 9!, side members 92 and 93, and a frontmember .94. Member 91 is carried on and fixed to the above mentionedmembers while member as is supported on columns 95 and 9G, in thepresent instance joined with sills 25 and 25 respectively. Member 94extends across the front of the machine and is connected with abovementioned column members I1 and I9 whereby to steady the engine carryingframe and prevent lateral weaving thereof.

88 as by a bolt Mi.

i "Above mentioned bracec83 has a strut 91 extending from member l3 andengaging member 83 approximatelymidway of the length thereof.

This helps to steady member "83 and assist it .to withstand compressivestresses. To prevent torsional weaving of the box structure, comprising1B, 119, ll, 72, 13 and 14, etc, diagonal braces 98 and 9.9 extend.fromapproximately the mid point of member H to opposite "ends of strutl I, whileother diagonal braces I00 and 10! extend from approximatelythe mid point of strut 1-2 tothe ends of member l2.

This completes the general description of the "major characteristicfeatures of the machine as a whole, and attention accordingly directedto certain units and assemblies constituting subcombinations of thegeneral structure.

Axle 3 as seen in Fig. 3, comprises a plurality of sections someof whichhave been already mentioned, namely stub axle -51. "stub axle 102 iscarried on .a web I03 fixed in any A second suitablemanner with asleeve[04 which is in turn fixed with above mentioned plate 36. In the presentinstance sleeve I04 has a sliding fit on axle section so and :isretained thereon as by a bolt M5 passing through-sleeve I04 and theextremityof axle 4a, Axle portion 4a may conveniently compriseai'substantially straight tubular member having a flange 106 engagedwith a flange I67 on axle portion 4 to form a rigid unitary member.Bolts as 108 "and H19 secure the flanges solidly together, and one ormore of such bolts may engagethe plate I II] to which is I07, assuggested in dotted lines, which will bring the overall width of the"machine down to less than half of what it is in condition foroperation.

Sleeve 50, as above described, i journaled on section to; and arms 55!and :52 are suitably fixed thereto as by welding or other suitableexpedients. Arm 52 may be "bifurcated to obtain r support for pinlifi,element ii'l being enwit-hin bifurcated portion of arm 52, as

Section 4 has above mentioned channel members'Z and 3 constitutinganchor plates welded or otherwise securelyfixed thereto andto whichabove mentioned sills 2 3 and 26 are secured, as by bolts orthe like 112and H3, together with other elements of the structure not necessary todescribe as they form no part of the present invention. Section '1 asabove described has a flange 8% to which is fixed as by bolts H4 and H5a flange H6 carrying a sleeve 1 l! which in turn carries aweb I 18 fixedwith above mentioned stub axle 8!. Flange 30 is also fixed with abovementioned member l2 as by a bolt H9.

When axle i is in position in the machine, it is rigidly held by anchorplates 2 and 3 and other c:onn.actions against rotation and its positionis so chosen that webs 103 and H8 are inclined backwardly as indicatedin Fig. 4. A turning moment is accordingly set up in the axle by theupward reaction of wheel 5 on stub axle I02, particularly in section 4a.The latter will tend to yield slightly under the resulting torsionalstress and provide a cushioning support for the apparatus. This isparticularly important when the machine is carried on metal wheels andit reduces the resulting shock loads throughout the structureappreciably.

Counterbalancing unit SI is of an enclosed type and comprisesessentially an adjusting rod I20 which may be threaded throughout itslength and anchored in a bracket or anchorage generally designated asI20a fixed to above mentioned brace 21 and other structure of thecombine as will presently appear. Adjusting rod I20 carries a nut I2I inthe present instance fixed with the rod and bearing against bracket I20aand by means of which the rod may be turned for adjusting thecounterbalancing unit relatively to the bracket. Also on adjusting rodI20 is a nut I22 engaged against a spider I23 which in turn bearsagainst a head 24 clamped thereagainst as by screws I25I25. Springs asI26-I26 are engaged with spider I23 and extend to another spider I21disposed on pull rod 62, spider I21 being clamped against a head I28between nuts I29 and I35. To prevent relative rotation of spider I21 andhead I28, screws as I3I may be engaged between the spider and head asshown. A. tubular housing member I32 extends from above mentioned headI24, fixed therewith in any suitable manner as by screws, rivets, or thelike I33I33, and a complementary tubular housing member I34 extends fromhead I28, being fixed therewith in any suitable manner as by screws orthe like I 35-!35. Housing members I32 and I34 are engaged in freelytelescoping relation with each other, and slide easily to accommodatethe stretching and retracting of springs I26 with the rocking of arm 64.The powerful springs I26 are protected from the weather and otherdestructive influences by housing members I34 and I32 and conversely theoperator of the machine is protected from flying parts in the event ofpossible breakage of one of the springs.

Adjusting element 61 in the present instance is of telescoping screwtype. A reversing gear generally designated as I36 is mounted ontrunnions as I31, Fig. '1, carried in bracket I20a or otherwisejournaled on the structure and has a driven shaft I38 which is threadedat I38. Shaft I38 extends within a tubular element I40 and the threadedsection is engaged with a nut I4I secured within tube I40 as by screwsI42I42. A bushing I43 is secured within tube I40 adjacent nut MI and asecond bushing I44 is secured within tube I'4II spaced from nut MI, thespaced bearing of bushings I43 and I44 on shaft I38 giving stability tothe connection between the shaft and tube so that a substantially rigidtelescoping unit is provided which can develop substantialexpansivethrust without buckling. Tube I40 has a fitting I45 secured therein asby an eyebolt I46, fitting I 45 providing above mentioned slot 61a.

A tubular housing element I41 extends from reverser I36 and encloses aportion of tube I40 to enclose shaft I 38 and exclude dirt from reverserI36 and bushing I44. It will now be apparent that rotation of shaft I38in one direction will cause expansion of member 61 and counterclockwiserocking of sleeve 50, assisted by the contractile force of springsI26-I26, while rotation of shaft I38 in the opposite direction willcause contraction of element 31 and opposite rotation of sleeve 59 withcorresponding expansion of springs I'23-I26. Suitable mechanismgenerally designated as I48 is provided for automatically limiting themovement of element 61,

the operation of which will be clear from the following description.

As seen in Fig. 9, reverser I36 is enclosed in a housing I49 throughwhich extends above mentioned shaft I38. Shaft I38 is journaled inbearing portions I 50 and I5! and has journaled thereon within housingI49 bevel gears I52 and I53, driven in opposite directions from a bevelgear I54 fixed with a shaft I55 (Fig. 1) journaled in a trunnion orbearing portion I55 also carried by housing I49. Gears I52 and I53 areprovided with clutch jaws I51 and I58 respectively, and a clutch elementI59 slidably keyed to shaft I38 between gears I52 and I53 has clutchjaws I60 and i6! engageable alternatively with jaws I51 and I58,whereupon shaft I38 may be driven in either direction as required forextending or retracting member 61 as above described. Clutch I59 has agroove or similar means I62 engaged by a shipper i 53 fixed as by meansof a pin I64 with a rod I65 slidable in casing I49. Sliding of the rodwill shift clutch element I58 into engagement with either gear,depending upon the direction of movement of the rod. Detent means ofsuitable type generally designated as I65a may be provided formaintaining rod I65 and clutch I59 in desired positions.

Appreciable thrust may be developed in shaft I38 and to accommodate thisa thrust bearing or plate I65 is keyed or otherwise secured on shaft 38in the present instance within a recess I61 in housing I49. Plate I66 ismaintained within recess I61 as by cover plate I68 bolted or otherwisesecurely fixed in place over the recess. Plate I66 rotates when inoperation in contact with either housing I48 or cover plate I68according as the thrust is in the direction to the right or left as seenin Fig. 9. Plate I36 may for convenience be retained on shaft I38 asbetween a shoulder I89 and a nut I10, cover plate I68 having a shieldingportion I1I enclosing nut I10. Shaft I38 continues beyond nut I10 andhas a nut or other polygonal or non-circular portion I12 for engagementof a wrench or the like by which sh-aft I38 may be rotated at such timesas power is not available on the combine.

The upper portion of housing I49 is closed by a cover plate I13 suitablyheld in place by wellknown means and having a filler neck I14 closed bya cap or the like I15. Through neck I14 a quantity of lubricant may beintroduced into housing 40 for oil bath operation of the mechanismwithin the housing. Shaft I55, Fig. '7, may carry sprocket I16 or otherdriving means actuated from any convenient power source on the combine,forming no part of the present invention. Such power sources, such asadjacent rotating sprockets, pulleys, shafts and the like, beingwell-known on combines, generally, it is considered unnecessary todescribe them further.

As seen in Figs. 5 and 6, bracket I20a includes side sections I11 andI18 engaged at their mid portions respectively with frame elements 85and 21 and having upward extensions I19 as seen more particularly inFig. 6, connected by a member I bridging the space between members I11and I18 and forming the anchoring means for above mentioned nut I 2|.Members I11 and I18 are securely anchored to members 65 and 21 as bybolts I8II8I.

Members I11 and I18 also have downwardly extending portions as I82 inwhich are journaled above mentioned trunnion I31 and hearing or trunnionI56. In this manner, reverser I36 is pivotallysupported so that it mayremain inlinewith. shaft I38 in spite of the arcuate movement of. pin56. Reverser I36. may be controlled-from a control rod I83 which maybeextended to a convenient point for actuation by the operator,

rod I83 being. suitably pivoted to a lever its:

fixed with a shaft I85 journaled in bearings as I86 carried for exampleonbrace 2i and other appropriate parts of the machine. Shaft usecarr-i'es a lever I81 to which is pivoted a link I85, pivotallyconnected as by a pin I89 with above mentioned rod I65. Fore and aftmovement of rod I83 will accordingly cause; through shaft I85, leversI84 and I81. and link Iiifi, shifting of clutch I59 to raise or lowerharvester portion 3,1 as above described without other exertion on thepart of the operator.

Limit control mechanism I48 comprises a shiftor rod I90 pivotallyconnected to eyebolt I46 or otherwise suitably connected forreciprocation with portion. I45. Rod I953 extends slidably through asleeve IEII fixed in any suitable manner, as by welding, with orcomprising part of a link I92 pivotally engaged with lever lS'I. Collarsor other suitable stop means I93. and Hi l are fixed on rod Illil and solocated as to shift sleeve- I9I and link I92 so as to return lever It?to the neutral position shown. If operation of shaft, I38 continues, tothe point of enga ement of either collar with sleeve IQI, clutch I59will be shifted b movement of link I92, lever I67! and link I88, and thelead of screw I33 and the direction of rotation of shaft I55 are sochosen that the resulting movement of clutch I59 will be away fromthegear with which" it is engaged.

For example, with the structure shown, if a right hand thread were usedon screw shaft I 38, counterclockwise rotation would bereq lired in gearI54, as seen in Figs. 8 and 9., whereas, if clockwise rotation only isavailable for gear I54, a left hand thread will be necessary on screwshaft I38.

Another major element requiring to be substantially supported is thecylinder and accordingly the means for mounting the cylinder shaftisincluded as part of the general framing of the combine. As seen inFig. .11, the cylinder shaft I85 is carried in bearings generallydesignated as I95 and I91, the details of the cylinder torming no partof the present invention, the shaft only being disclosed. The bearings96 and I91 and their mountings being substantially identical, bearingI9? only will be described.

As seen in Fig. 10, braces I98 and. IE9, conveniently comprising angleirons are suitably fixed as by welding, riveting, or the like, with sill25 of body portion I, and extend upwardly along the wall thereof, oneflange time of brace ist being disposed flat against said wall and theother flange IBBb extending outwardly. Brace I99 is similarlyconstituted, a flange I99a being disposed against body portion I and aflange [99?) extending outwardly so that a channel 209 is formed betweenthe braces I98 and I99. A block 2M is placed in-chamiel Zlliland carriesa bearing unit generally designated as 262 which may be of any suitabletype, forming no part of the present invention. Jack bolts 203 and -2Il4extend through the outwardly disposed flange 205 of sill 26, and may belooked therein as by nuts 236-406. The bolts may be flattened if desiredas at 201 and other bolts 2!JB-2ll8 extend through the flattenedportions and through outwardly directed flanges I981: and IE9?) andthrough block ZUI, bolts 20% including heads 209-209, and beingarrangedfor clamping jackbolts 2Il3nand 2M, flanges I9Bband I992)? and block 2Mrigidly together as by. means of nuts; Edda-Jase, which in. turn maybesecured by lock nuts zesbezusb: In this manner, blockiIlI and bearing292 are carried in an extremely stable andsubstantially rigid mannerdirectly from sill 26.

It is desirabletolocate cylinder shaft L515 quite. accurately withrelation to internal parts of the threshing mechanism, not shownandforming no part of the present invention. Slots as 210 Est- 2 and 209aand 21196. may. be tightened, whereupon flanges [98b and I995 and. bolts2183 and 25 3- will be rigidly clamped together, and the block andbearing very strongly supported by braces I93 and I99 and boltsZii'S'and 2M. To facilitate this adjustment it desirable, although notimperative, that bearing. units as 2B2 be offa' type permittingsubstantial misalignment, many of which are well known.

The operation of the various phases ofthe invention is thought to beclear from the foregoing description, it being noted that the framework,

particularly .as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, is. so constituted as tocarry the load of the machine parts on the wheeledaxle without imposingundue stresses on the main body portion I of the threshing mechanism, sothat distortion of the same and misalignment ofthe working parts, forexample by swaying of the heavily loaded grain bin, is avoided. It willalso. be apparent that the harvester portion is securely supported andcar ried directly from the axle insuch a manner that no undue stressesare produced in the feeder spout. The harvester is supported from belowby means which assist in .stiffeningit and in preventing distortion orsagging. The means for so. supporting the harvester constitutes .a trussbelow. theaxle which tends to resolve the weight of the harvester,movably supported at the front of themachine, into an upward thrust atthe rear of. the machine to put, the whole organization substantially inbalance. This means also allows the harvester portion to float over any010-. struction inadvertently damage to .theharvester orits supportingmechanism, and also provides a power actuated .lift-,

ing or adjustingmeans [for adjusting the harves ter to the desiredheight above the groundiwithout other effort on .thepart of the operatorthan shifting the control rod I83. counterbalancing means for relieving.the elevating means of part of the work of lifting the harvester. Thespring means for counterbal anoing the harvester is enclosed. forpurposestof safety.

It willalso-beapparentthatthe cylinder shaft is supported in a veryzsecure manner, but thatit may be readily adjusted in.,position .bymanipulatingvnuts-.2fi6, 209a and 2 0917. Theaxleforsup porting thecombine isasoidisposed .that itmay y d r i nal v onthe Shocks it m'-mitted to the structure by its passage .olver the.

ground, and the axle may be readily shortened substantially fornarrowing the machine for encountered without It also provides c 11 stransportation on the highway.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment ofthe invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured byLetters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a harvester thresher having an axle portion and a harvesterportion, the combination of means for suspending the harvester portionat three points in line, said points being located generally above saidaxle, counterbalancing means above said axle and connected for exertinga lifting force on said harvester, a power operated extensible strutbelow said axle, and said strut being connected for raising saidharvester portion uponextension of said strut.

2. A supporting and adjusting means for harvester platforms of the typeincluding a troughlike element, a housing at one end of the troughlikeelement, an arm extending rearwardly from the trough, pivot bearin meanson said housing and pivot bearing means on said arm, and bracesextending from said rearwardly extending arm to spaced points on theupper part of said troughlike element, said means comprising a braceextending from said rearwardly extending arm to a lower portion of saidtrough-like element at a point remote from said housing, and means onone of said braces for adjusting its length for introducing a twistingforce into said trough-like element.

3. In a harvester thresher having an axle portion and a harvesterportion, the combination of means for supporting and controlling saidharvester portion including a plurality of aligned pivotal supportsrigidly located generally above said axle, an anchorage on the harvesterthresher, a tension spring connected to said anchorage forcounterbalancing said harvester portion, a torsion resisting elementrockably supported relatively to said axle, an arm extending upwardlyfrom the torsion resisting element and connected with said tensionspring, a plurality of relatively movable housing tubes engaged witheach other and respectively with said anchoring means and with saidupwardly extending arm, a downwardly extending arm on said torsionresisting element, screw means connected at one end with anchorage andat the other end with said downwardly extending arm and forminganextensible strut, actuating means for the screw means including adriving means and a reverser, said power actuating means having aninoperative position, control means for the actuating means and tripmeans for the control means adapted to be operated by movement of theextensible strut for stopping the action of the actuating means uponpredetermined movement of the extensible strut, and a connection fromsaid torsion resisting element to said harvester portion for raising andlowering the latter in response to rotation of the torsion resistingelement.

4. In a harvester thresher having an axle portion and a harvesterportion, the combination of means for supporting and controlling saidharvester portion including a plurality of aligned pivotal supportsrigidly located generally above said axle, an anchorage on the harvesterthresher, a tension spring connected to said anchorage, a sleevejournaled on said axle, an arm extending upwardlyfrom the sleeve andconnected with said tension spring, a downwardly extending arm on saidsleeve, an extensible strut connected at one end with said anchorage andat the other end with said downwardly extending arm, screw means forextending and retracting said strut, actuating means for the screw meansincluding a, driving means and a reverser, said actuating means havingan inoperative position, control means for the actuating means and tripmeans for the'con-c trol means adapted to be actuated by movement of theextensible strut for stopping the action of the actuating means uponpredetermined movement of the extensible strut, and a connection fromsaid sleeve to said harvester portion for raising and lowering thelatter in response to rotation of the sleeve.

5. In a harvester thresher having a harvester portion, including anauger trough provided with a cutter bar on the front margin thereof, thecombination of means for supporting and controlling said harvesterportion including a plurality of aligned pivotal supports rigidlylocated to the rear of said auger trough, arigid rearward extension onsaid auger trough pivotally connected with one of said rigidly locatedpivotal supports and a plurality of diagonal braces extending from saidrigid rearward extension to spaced points on said auger trough, at leastone of said' braces having means thereon for adjusting its length forwarping said trough to eliminate sagging of said cutter bar.

6. In a harvester thresher having an axle portion and a harvesterportion including an auger trough, the combination of means forsupporting and controlling said harvester portion including a pluralityof aligned pivotal supports rigidly located generally above said axle, atorsionally resistant element associated with said axle for rockingmovement relatively thereto, spaced arms on said torsionally resistantelement extending laterally therefrom, power lift means connected withsaid torsionally resistant element for rocking the same for raising andlowering said harvester portion, and a link connection from each of saidarms to points on said harvester portion spaced from each other and fromsaid aligned pivotal supports for raising and lowering the latter inresponse to rocking of said torsionally resistant element and forresisting distortion of said auger trough portion by virtue of thetorsional resistance of said torsionally resistant element.

NORMAN R. KRAUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

